Easy Meatball Recipe
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
30 mins
-
Cook Time
20 mins
-
Total Time
50 mins
-
Servings
6 (about 25-30 meatballs)
-
Calories
507 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
American, Italian-American Fussion
Easy Meatball Recipe
Description
This Easy Meatball Recipe mixes Italian seasoned breadcrumbs softened in milk with ground beef and pork, along with egg, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, chopped fresh parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese. The mixture is combined gently by hand to avoid overworking, then shaped into 1¼ to 1½-inch meatballs. The meatballs can be baked on parchment or foil-lined sheets in a 400°F oven until cooked through—typically about 20 minutes depending on size. The combination of beef and pork provides balance between flavor and moisture, while Parmesan and parsley add freshness and richness. The recipe notes recommend avoiding very lean meat for better juiciness and suggest measuring internal temperature to 165°F for safety. Baking on racks or rotating sheets helps even cooking. This straightforward method yields moist, well-seasoned meatballs suitable for a variety of dishes or sauces.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup milk I use whole milk
- 1 pound ground beef see note
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 large egg
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped finely, fresh
- 3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients, then add the breadcrumbs and milk to a fairly large prep bowl. Mix/mash together until you've got a paste.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. Using your hands, mix it together and then form 1 ¼ - 1 ½-inch meatballs (use about 2 ½ tbsp meat/meatball and it'll make approx. 25-30 meatballs). Don't over-mix or pack them too tightly, and use a delicate touch.
- Place the meatballs on a parchment paper or foil-lined baking sheet as you go along for easy clean-up. Choose from two cooking methods below. If you're baking them and don't have a large enough baking sheet to give them a little room, use two of them.
- Baking instructions: Preheat oven to 400F. Position the rack in the middle if using one baking sheet (if using two, do top and bottom and rotate the baking sheets halfway through cooking). Bake for 20 minutes or until they're cooked through. Timing will depend on the size of your meatballs, so err on the side of less time and test early if they're on the small side.Frying instructions: You can get better browning on meatballs if you sear them in a skillet, but you will need to finish them in a sauce or in the oven to cook them through (it's not safe to store partially cooked meat). Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large, deep skillet and let it heat up for a few minutes over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs in two batches until all sides are browned (about 5-7 minutes/batch). It's easiest to turn the meatballs with tongs. You may need to add a splash more oil for the second batch. Simmer meatballs in sauce or transfer the skillet to the oven until they're cooked through.
- Baked meatballs can be portioned up and frozen after they've cooled (I add 4-5 meatballs to small bags like a Ziploc or sandwich bag and then place them in a larger Tupperware container and freeze the whole thing).
Notes
- Use ground meats with fat content around 80-85% for best flavor and moistness.
- Adjust meatball size as desired, but cooking times will vary accordingly; internal temperature should reach 165°F.
- One half-sheet pan can hold about 25 meatballs comfortably; if needed, use two pans positioned top and bottom and rotate them halfway through baking.
- Additional tips and photos are available on the related blog post, useful especially for first-time meatball makers.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6(about 25-30 meatballs)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 507 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 507kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 34g | 68% |
| Fat | 37g | 57% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 152mg | 51% |
| Sodium | 825mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 511mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 410IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 208mg | 21% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
